Is Your Dog Stressed Out? 6 Easy-To-Employ Strategies To Reduce Your Pooch's Stress.
Posted: Monday, July 28, 2008
by Annette Masse
For The Love Of DogZ
Stress has a larger impact on our pets than often realized. Stress in humans can have very detrimental effects including: irritability, aggressiveness towards our surroundings, health problems, and may even affect our relationships with others. In light of this, why wouldn't we believe that our dogs can suffer from stress, as well?
A few of the Stress symptoms for dogs are very easy to spot. Is your dog:
*Frequently hyper
*Unable to rest
* Frequently displaying signals of self-calming
* Acting aggressively or anxiously
* Displaying compulsive behaviors
* Appearing "distant"
* Excessively panting
* Trouble maintaining weight
* Excessively self grooming
* Constant barking or whining
* Frequently urinating
Almost all behavioral problems in dogs stem from stress to some degree. What can be done with dogs that have stress induced behavioral problems?
Be aware of your dog. You need to see when your dog becomes stressed, and learn why the stress is happening. The best course is to eliminate a conflicting situation before it ever occurs. A dog feels stress in his life when there are certain stressors that occur. Some things that can be classified as stressors are: A few of the Stress symptoms for dogs are very easy to spot. Is your dog:
*Unable to rest
* Frequently displaying signals of self-calming
* Acting aggressively or anxiously
* Displaying compulsive behaviors
* Appearing "distant"
* Excessively panting
* Trouble maintaining weight
* Excessively self grooming
* Constant barking or whining
* Frequently urinating
Almost all behavioral problems in dogs stem from stress to some degree. What can be done with dogs that have stress induced behavioral problems?
• Death of a close human
• Moving house
• Death or loss of another dog, or other animal friend.
• Stress on your dog can be caused by locking your dog in a cage for too long.
•Noise or deafening sounds (eg. construction, thunderstorms) can also induce stress.
Cortisol is a hormone that increases in a dog's body when it is stressed. Dogs who have too much Cortisol in their systems can suffer from emotional and physical harm.
Three subsequent levels can be formed to define reactions to stress.
1. Stage one – The Alarm Reaction Stage. The dog is afflicted with nervous impulses that release a hormone, leading to optimum efficiency.
2. Stage two - The Resistance Stage - This is the stage where you dog is trying to cope with the situation. It leads to a lower resistance to the stressors in his life.
3. Stage Three – The Exhaustion stage - If the stress persists for an extended period of time, the animal will lose his ability to cope with the situation. The animal will change back to the first stage, but his difficulties will continue; this is called "adaption disease". Unrelenting elevated levels of Cortisol in the blood cause adaptation disease.
No body can remain in a perpetual state of alarm forever. It's simply not possible. As a result, your dog will start acting out in a negative manner. Strong tension and ongoing stressors will result in your animal reacting like the 3 stages mentioned above.
A dog with a permanently raised level of Cortisol in his blood, will suffer from a weakened immune system. Other consequences of stress may be diseases of the digestive system such as stomach ulcers, and chronic diarrhea. Long term serious damage may include: high blood pressure, stroke, damage to the adrenal gland, and even heart attacks.
Take some time out to make your dog feel more relaxed if you feel as though your dog is stressed. While dogs differ, this is often a great start to reducing your dog's stress.
* Love and security is what your dog needs
* Time well-spent entails bonding
* Healthy and calm breathing for the both of you is most beneficial
* Give them enough places to withdraw to, rest, and sleep.
* A dog should be given a good life.
* They should be made to mix with people who like dogs, friendly cats, and with other dogs as well. Socialization is a good thing for your dog!
* Give him plenty of walks in the fresh air
* A healthy diet is also important.
Reducing your dog's stress will increase his happiness; it's as simple as that. And when your dog is happy, so are you!
For more information on this topic and much more please take my complementary online course for you and your dog.
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